Chambers Ireland Welcomes Publication of National Infrastructure Plan

Chambers Ireland has welcomed the launch of Project Ireland 2040, a €116 billion plan for Ireland’s development.

The project consists of two plans, the National Planning Framework Ireland 2040 and the National Development Plan.

As well as on infrastructure projects such as public transport development, such as rail and metro developments, Project Ireland 2040 focuses on social, economic and cultural development. Planning to balance rural and urban investment, three-quarters of new growth will be outside Dublin, with 50 per cent of the projected population growth planned for towns, villages and rural areas. The project is underpinned by a ten-year €116 billion National Development Plan.

Responding to the publication, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot commented: “Chambers Ireland has been calling on Government to significantly increase levels of spending on infrastructure as the best way to protect our economy from the threat of Brexit, to support continued growth and improve quality of life. We welcome the target to bring Ireland from one of the lowest levels of capital investment in the EU to among the highest by 2024.

“We would caution however that given the €116 billion investment that is now planned over the next ten years and the many large-scale infrastructure projects set to begin, it is imperative that Government ensure our planning and procurement processes are properly equipped to meet these targets. We cannot deliver Project Ireland 2040 without our planning and procurement processes having the resources and legislative backing to support it. Getting this right is the next step in the implementation of these plans.”